Ann Arbor Times

Eastern Michigan University (EMU) has announced the arrival of refugee students representing the inaugural cohort of the Welcome Corps on Campus. EMU is the first university in the United States, and one of 18 this year, to host students through this program. The initiative allows colleges and universities to privately sponsor and resettle academically qualified refugee students who previously lacked a pathway to resettle in the U.S. for higher education.

“This back-to-school season, I’m grateful for the partnership of higher education institutions who are welcoming refugee students in the Welcome Corps on Campus’s first-ever cohort,” said Julieta Valls Noyes, assistant secretary of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration at the U.S. Department of State. “Over the United States Refugee Admissions Program's 40-year history, we have seen time and again that refugees make tremendous social and economic contributions across the United States, including the kind of contributions that drive America’s competitiveness and innovation on the global stage. I’m confident this program will benefit not only the refugees arriving as students but also the campus communities generously welcoming them.”

Campus communities have historically been centers for innovation and opportunity. The Welcome Corps on Campus aims to extend this legacy by enabling American higher education institutions to unite campus leadership, students, staff, and faculty in welcoming refugee students seeking further education.

Refugee students will receive support from on-campus sponsor groups that assist with housing arrangements, class enrollment, access to social services, and integration into their new campus communities. In return, American campuses will gain from international perspectives brought by these refugee students through peer-to-peer exchanges that foster experiential learning and a stronger sense of community belonging.

“Eastern Michigan University is committed to providing refugee students with life-changing educational opportunities,” said James Smith, president of Eastern Michigan University. “Our involvement in the Welcome Corps on Campus effort reflects the University’s commitment to All Are Welcome Here—a theme celebrating inclusivity within EMU's community that is visible across campus signage. We are thrilled to join other campuses as a partner in this important initiative."

The Welcome Corps on Campus connects higher education with U.S. resettlement efforts and offers a pathway to U.S. citizenship for refugee students who face barriers continuing their education due to displacement from their homes. On-campus private sponsor groups help newly arriving refugee students enroll in classes while providing academic support and assistance acclimating to campus life.

The program at EMU relies primarily on charitable donations. Interested parties can contribute via the “New Future Fund” available on EMU Foundation's website.

Founded in 1849, Eastern Michigan University is Michigan's second oldest public university serving over 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students across various disciplines through its multiple colleges. National publications frequently recognize EMU for its excellence in diversity and applied education.

For more information about Eastern Michigan University or its initiatives like Welcome Corps on Campus visit EMU Today or their official website.